Ski training device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a ski training device designed to assist an instructor to teach a beginner skier how to ski. The ski training device includes a front portion with a gripping section for the beginner skier, a back portion with a gripping section for the instructor, two side portions that connect the front and back portions, and an internal cavity between the front portion, back portion, and side portions, configured for the beginner skier.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application No. 63/269,120, filed Mar. 10, 2022, thecomplete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates in general to the field of ski instruction. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a training device that aninstructor can use with a student to teach a student how to ski.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, learning to ski can take place at a very early age and isachievable at any age. However, a lack of confidence and/or memorablynegative first experiences can easily jeopardize a beginner's learningtrajectory and passion to continue. These negative first experiences cancome in the form of falling, skiing too fast and out of control, hurtingoneself, etc. As such, confidence, positive initial experiences, and funare key to encouraging beginners to learn to ski.

In the past, beginner skiers have relied on ski poles, thinking the skipoles will help for balance. Ski poles are also attractive to beginnerskiers simply because they see others using them. However, as abeginner, ski poles can cause a tremendous amount of physical confusionand distract from proper technique of the skier's legs and feet. Thesepoles can be a distraction from the desired interaction between one'sskis and the snow underneath. Beginners may try to focus theirbalancing, steering, breaking, and pushing off with the poles, all ofwhich are counterproductive to the goal of becoming comfortable on theskis themselves. Poles can also be a safety risk on ski lifts and hillsto the skiers themselves and to other skiers.

Thus, there is a need for a ski training device where an instructor cancontrol a student's speed, direction, and balance while instillingconfidence in students of all ages and abilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a ski training device designed to assistan instructor to teach a beginner how to ski. The ski training deviceincludes a front portion with a gripping section for the beginner skier,a back portion with a gripping section for the instructor, two sideportions that connect the front and back portions, and an internalcavity between the front portion, back portion, and side portions,configured for the beginner skier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages ofthe invention will be readily understood from the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of a ski training deviceconstructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of another embodiment of a ski trainingdevice constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention illustrating the use of ski pole grip handles;

FIG. 2B illustrates a partial side view of an embodiment of a skitraining device constructed in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present invention illustrating the use of ski pole grip handles;

FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of another embodiment of a ski trainingdevice constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention illustrating one example of a mechanism to adjust the width ofthe ski training device;

FIG. 3B illustrates a partial side view of an embodiment of a mechanismto adjust the width of the ski training device;

FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of another embodiment of a ski trainingdevice constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention illustrating one example of a mechanism to adjust the lengthof the ski training device;

FIG. 4B illustrates a partial side view of an embodiment of a mechanismto adjust the length of the ski training device;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of one way to use an embodiment ofa ski training device constructed in accordance with one or more aspectsof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be discussed hereinafter in detail in termsof various exemplary embodiments according to the present invention withreference to the accompanying drawings. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious,however, to those skilled in the art that the present invention may bepracticed without these specific details. In other instances, well-knownstructures are not shown in detail in order to avoid unnecessaryobscuring of the present invention.

Thus, all the implementations described below are exemplaryimplementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make oruse the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit thescope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims.

Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed orimplied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background,or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood thatthe specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings,and described in the following specification, are simply exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims.Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relatingto the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered aslimiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. Although theillustrated embodiments and descriptions are directed to teaching abeginner skier how to ski, other uses of a ski training deviceconstructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention are contemplated including, for example, roller blading andice skating.

In accordance with the one or more aspects of the present invention, aski training device 100 is provided. In an exemplary embodiment depictedin FIG. 1 , a ski training device 100 may include a front portion 110, afirst side portion 120, a second side portion 130 and a back portion140. First side portion 120 and second side portion 130 extend betweenfront portion 110 and back portion 140 to internal cavity 160. The frontportion 110 and back portion 140 may be connected to first and secondside portions 120, 130 through any means, temporary or permanent suchas: a connector made out of the same materials as the rest of theportions where each portion slides into the connector, any other type ofconnector, glue, welding, tape, rope, PVC connectors, fittings,adapters, bushings, caps and plugs, couplings, elbows, flanges, nipples,tees, crosses, saddle tees, unions, and wyes. The portions may also bemanufactured such that the pieces are manufactured together.

Internal cavity 160 may be sized and configured for a beginner skier,while a ski trainer or instructor may hold back portion 140 to guide anddirect the beginner skier, as will be explained in more detail below.Ski training device 100 may be configured in a wide variety of shapes,including, but not limited to, rectangular or trapezoidal. In oneembodiment, front portion 110, first side portion 120, second sideportion 130 and back portion 140 may be made from a relatively lightmaterial to be held by a young skier and allows for a trainer to guidethe beginner skier and may include, for example, hollow PVC tubing orsolid plastic.

Front portion 110 may include a first gripping section 151 for abeginner skier to hold onto, and back portion 140 may include a secondgripping section 152 for the instructor to hold onto. First and secondgripping sections 151, 152 may be etching or an adhesive surface offront and back portions 110, 140 or, alternatively, include an addedmaterial applied to front portion 110 and back portion 140 that wouldaid an instructor and a beginner skier in holding onto the invention,such as, for example, tape, any type of sports grip, leather, syntheticleather, polyester, silicone, rubber, polyurethane, plastic, elastomer,cork, and wood. Also, first and second gripping sections 151, 152 may becontinuous along the front portion 110 and the back portion 140, or,alternatively, may be broken up into two or more spaced sections alongtheir lengths.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, front portion 110may include handles 280 for the beginner skier to hold onto. In oneexample, handles 280 may be in the form of handle grips similar to thegrips found on traditional ski poles. In this example, handle grips maybe coupled to front portion 110. Use of handle grips similar to atraditional ski pole would help the beginner skier get use to the feelof a ski pole while training.

FIG. 3A depicts yet another embodiment of a ski training device 300constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention. In this example, front portion 310 may include a first member311 and a second member 312 and back portion 340 may include a thirdmember 341 and a fourth member 342. The width of ski training device 300may be adjustable by adjusting the relationship between first member 311and second member 312 and between third member 341 and fourth member342. In one example, first member 311 may be telescopically received inand out of the second member 312 to adjust the width of said frontportion 310 and third member 341 may be telescopically received in andout of fourth member 342 to adjust the width of back portion 340.

In one embodiment depicted in FIG. 3A, the width of ski training device300 may be adjustable. In one example depicted in FIG. 3B, the width offront portion 310 and back portion 340 are adjusted by use of a springloaded button mechanism 314/344 located on, for example, second member312 of first portion 310 and fourth member 342 of back portion 340. Inthis embodiment, first member 312 of front portion 310 and third member342 of back portion 340 would include a plurality of spaced adjustmentholes or slots 313/343 longitudinally spaced apart at set distancesconfigured to receive and engage the spring loaded button mechanism. Bydepressing the spring loaded buttons 314/344, first member 311 andsecond member 312 of front portion 310 and third member 341 and fourthmember 342 of back portion 340 are disengaged to allow first member 311to be telescopically moved to a position relative to second member 312and third member 341 to be telescopically moved to a position relativeto fourth member 342, respectively. When a desired width of frontportion 310 and back portion 340 is achieved, the spring loaded buttons314/344 on second member 312 and fourth member 342 align with andreleases into one of the plurality of holes or slots 313/343 in firstmember 311 and third member 341, respectively, to lock the width offront portion 310 and back portion 340, and the relative positions offirst member 311 and second member 312 and of third member 341 andfourth member 342 in the desired positions. Other mechanisms that wouldadjust the width of front portion 310 and back portion 340 arecontemplated, such as a spring loaded pull mechanism located on, forexample, first member 311 of first portion 310 and third member 341 ofback portion 340. In this spring loaded pull mechanism embodiment,second member 312 of front portion 310 and fourth member 342 of backportion 340 would include a plurality of spaced adjustment holes orslots 313/343 longitudinally spaced apart at set distances configured toreceive and engage the spring loaded pull mechanism.

In yet another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4A, the length of skitraining device may be adjustable. In one example illustrated in FIG.4B, the length of first side portion 320 and second side portion 330 areadjusted by use of a spring loaded button mechanism 324/344 located on,for example, sixth member 322 of first side portion 320 and eighthmember 332 of second side portion 330. In this embodiment, fifth member321 of first side portion 320 and seventh member 331 of second sideportion 330 would include a plurality of spaced adjustment holes orslots 323/333 longitudinally spaced apart at set distances configured toreceive and engage the spring loaded button mechanism 324/344. Pushingthe spring loaded button mechanisms 324/334 disengages fifth member 321from sixth member 322 and seventh member 331 from eighth member 332,which then allows fifth member 321 to be moved longitudinally relativeto sixth member 322 to a new hole or slot 323/333 location and to allowseventh member 331 to be moved longitudinally relative to eighth member332 to a new hole or slot 323/333 location. The spring loaded buttonmechanisms 324/334 are then released and locks in the new position. Theability to adjust the length of first side member 320 and second sidemember 330 also alters internal cavity to, for example, accommodatedifferent sized beginner skiers may fit or alter the distance betweenthe beginner skier and the trainer.

In yet another example, a ski training device constructed in accordancewith one or more aspects of the present invention may include springloaded button mechanisms 324/334 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 toadjust both the widths of front portion 310 and back portions 340 andthe lengths of first side portion 320 and second side portion 330.

In another example, first side portion 320 may include a fifth member321 and a sixth member 322 and second side portion 330 may include aseventh member 331 and an eight member 332. The length of ski trainingdevice 300 may be adjustable by adjusting the relationship between fifthmember 321 and sixth member 322 and between seventh member 331 andeighth member 332. In one example, fifth member 321 may betelescopically received in and out of the sixth member 322 to adjust thelength of first side portion 321 and seventh member 33 may betelescopically received in and out of fourth member 332 to adjust thelength of second side portion 330.

The telescopic actuation to adjust the widths of front portion 310 andback portion 340 and to adjust the lengths of first side portion 320 andsecond side portion 330 may be accomplished by other known mechanismknown in the art, including, for example, the spring loaded push buttondescribed above and by the use of pull pins, removeable bolts fixed ontothe first members or the second members. In alternative embodiments, forexample, the first member 311 and second member 312 may include aninternal or external groove or track configured to allow the firstmember 311 and second member 312 slide past one another along a singleaxis, to aid the use of the spring loaded pull pin or any other lockingand unlocking means. Other mechanisms may include push pins, pull pins,button clips, hook-and-loop fasteners, lock pins, and clamps.

In another example illustrated in FIG. 5 , the use of ski trainingdevice 200 is shown with a beginner skier positioned within internalcavity 260 and a ski instructor positioned holding first side portion220 and second side portion 240. The ski instructor may also be holdingonto back portion 240. The beginner skier is shown holding onto grips280 and the ski instructor may be holding onto grip portions 152, 252,352. The ski instructor may guide/direct the ski training device left,right, up, down, and straight to assist beginner skier with turns,holding the first side portion, second side portion, and back portionsin various ways to control the movement of the beginner skier. The skiinstructor may also direct the speed of the beginner skier by slowingdown or speeding up the speed of their skis, with the ski instructor'schange in speed imparted to the beginner skier through the ski trainingdevice. The width and length of the ski training device may be adjustedwhile using the device by the ski instructor and/or the beginner skierpressing the spring loaded push button 314, 324, 334, 344 (notillustrated in FIG. 5 ) and pulling out or pushing in the correspondingattached members.

In another embodiment of the invention, handle grips similar to handlegrips 280 may be fixed on top of or instead of gripping portion 152,252, 352.

In another embodiment of the invention, a safety strap, wrist strap, orsimilar device may be attached to any component of the invention for,for example, safely carrying the invention up a ski lift.

While several aspects of the present invention have been described anddepicted herein, alternative aspects may be effected by those skilled inthe art to accomplish the same objectives. Accordingly, it is intendedto cover all such alternative aspects as fall within the true spirit andscope of the invention.

1. A ski training device, said ski training device designed to assist aninstructor to teach a beginner skier how to ski, said ski trainingdevice comprising: a front portion, said front portion including a firstgripping section for the beginner skier; a back portion, said backportion including a second gripping section for the instructor; a firstside portion, said first side portion extending between said backportion and said front portion; a second side portion, said second sideportion extending between said back portion and said front portion; andsaid front portion, said back portion, said first side portion, and saidsecond side portion forming an internal cavity configured for thebeginner skier.
 2. The ski training device of claim 1, wherein the firstgripping section includes two handles coupled to said front portion. 3.The ski training device of claim 1, wherein said front portion, saidback portion, and said two side portions form a substantiallytrapezoidal internal cavity.
 4. The ski training device of claim 1,wherein said front portion, said back portion, and said two sideportions form a substantially rectangular internal cavity.
 5. The skitraining device of claim 1, wherein said first side portion includes afirst member and a second member, the first member being telescopicallyreceived by the second member to adjust a length of said first sideportion.
 6. The ski training device of claim 5, wherein said second sideportion includes a first member and a second member, the first memberbeing telescopically received by the second member to adjust a length ofsaid second side portion.
 7. The ski training device of claim 1, whereinsaid front portion includes a first member and a second member, thefirst member being telescopically received by the second member toadjust a width of said front portion.
 8. The ski training device ofclaim 7, wherein said back portion includes a first member and a secondmember, the first member being telescopically received by the secondmember to adjust a width of said back portion.
 9. The ski trainingdevice of claim 1, wherein said front portion, said back portion, saidfirst side portion, and said second side portion are formed by hollowtubes.
 10. The ski training device of claim 1, wherein the secondgripping section includes two handles coupled to said back portion. 11.The ski training device of claim 1, further comprising a wrist strap forcarrying the ski training device.